Medal for Logan

Logan's mother heard about Medals4Mettle and contacted me about Logan receiving one. He is battling Leukemia while still trying to remain as active as possible (baseball, soccer) while balancing that between treatments. Although he had an up and down summer, he is doing great now and calls the medal he received from M4M " his super hero medal!!" Stay Strong Logan!!

Adam Carter is first Medals4Mettle Central Illinois Recipient

On September 14, 2009 Adam Carter was presented with the first medal from the newly formed Medals4Mettle (M4M) Central Illinios chapter. Adam is an 11 year old boy from Decatur, IL battling cancer. His story is chronicled online at http://www.helpadamfightcancer.com/.

The entire Carter family, Springfield Running Center, several media outlets and St. John's Children's Hosptial staff attended the presentation.

Thanks to everyone involved including the State Journal Register and WAND 17 for covering the presentation. M4M Central Illinois is off and running! Thanks Again!! scott

Joining Forces

This will now be the blog for both Illinois Chapters (Chicago and Central Illinois). I am excited for more people to post on the site... and hopefully have some more traffic in the process!

Welcome Scott and Central Illinois

Some Feedback from our Legacy Cards

Question:
Why did you decide to donate medals to M4M?

- I think the program is amazing and what these people go through is far more challenging thank anything I have gone through. They inspire me to be a better person!

-Although i worked hard to earn them, those who will ultimately receive them through M4M deserve them much more for their hard work through their challenges.

- The article in Runners World inspired me. As much as I like these medals, they will happily be even more appreciated by someone else whose earned them in a different way... and who deserve them more than i

Medals for Mettle in Chicago... in the news

so, i was google-ing my name and M4M as i had a moment of being too lazy to log into my blog... and found this article!

http://www.examiner.com/x-560-Running-Examiner~y2009m6d25-Donate-those-unwanted-running-medals

Medal to Gavin

Gavin is the sweetest boy. He is the middle of 5 children and has such a sweet spirit. Early in his development, he was diagnosed with Pervasive Developmental Disorder (Non-Specified) (PDD) and Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD). PDD has similar features of autism and SPD is when the "sensory signals do not get organized with the appropriate responses." This can lead with difficulty with speech and social isolation. Sadly, sometimes these conditions can go un-acknowledged.

Gavin is a fighter... along with his parents. Balancing 5 children along with assuring Gavin and the other's specific needs are met... is amazing and a feat within itself! I wanted Gavin to have one of my medals b/c i wanted him to know to NEVER give up.

I was watching The Spirit of The Marathon the other day and one of the people said... "some people run marathons to compete in them and other run them to COMPLETE them"....

i think that is true for life too. Here's to Gavin! Go Get 'Em!!!!

"Let freedom never perish in your hands." ~Joseph Addison

We had another medal drop for Medals4Mettle at the Chicago VA Hospital July 4th weekend. It was an amazing experience as i was able to work with a wonderful family whose boys collected the medals for their Mitzvah Project. The VA identified four in-patients (all women veterans) whom they wanted to receive a medal. It really was touching and the boys did great! I am so thankful for all the men and women who have served and are serving our country. Their sacrifice is greatly appreciated and i hope they felt that today with their medals.